Stephen McGee -- On the Run

[CowboyMcCoy]

I love this guy's game. He is nothing like Romo other than he likes to compete. At least, right now he is nothing like him. But he is still fun to watch. I don't think I've ever seen a guy throw on the run, aside from Favre, and be as accurate and have that much velocity on the ball.

Being a Longhorn fan, naturally I watched a little bit of Stephen McGee. He was always interesting and very athletic. I also remember this guy from his high school days. He was playing for nearby Burnett...well it's sort of nearby. And I have friends there who would talk about Jordan Shipley (Texas) mostly, but also about McGee (Texas A&M).

McGee can give you fits running. He can pass from the pocket very well. Right now, he is just slow making reads and he holds on to the ball for too long.

So that's a problem that can be fixed. It's not his athleticism holding him down. He ran for over 150 yards against Nebraska's defense. He just needs to learn to make his reads.

In the meantime, those throws on the run are a thing of beauty!

I also like his confidence. He's intelligent and even-keeled, which is what you like in QBs.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I have to say, I was pretty impressed with McGee tonight. I think, like you said, he needs to get the ball out faster. Having said that, his other biggest weakness coming into this season was his terrible pocket presence. He never stepped up in the pocket to make a throw. He did that a lot tonight and that's a pretty major step.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I have to say, I was pretty impressed with McGee tonight. I think, like you said, he needs to get the ball out faster. Having said that, his other biggest weakness coming into this season was his terrible pocket presence. He never stepped up in the pocket to make a throw. He did that a lot tonight and that's a pretty major step.

If you look at his tapes from A&M, they really had him in a lot of QB run schemes. He was running more than passing a lot of the time. So his transition had to be tougher than someone who came from a traditional pocket passing scheme.

I agree though. He is getting better in the pocket. But I have seen him do that at times. I'm betting he'd give Romo a run for velocity on the football too.

I'd like to know their most recent comparisons if anyone knows if they've clocked either player this preseason.

I forget what they're called, but the Cowboys hire those guys who basically break every thing down in stats, from the time of release to velocity, time from snap to ball carrier, etc.

It all gets too numeric for me. I like watching what I see with my eyes. I can just tell this guy is a player who just needs a good tune up.

 

[Air Force One]

He was fine against Denver's B and C team

I'm happy with how he played but I don't for a second think he could replace Romo(you didn't insinuate this , I'm just saying.).

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

He was fine against Denver's B and C team

I'm happy with how he played but I don't for a second think he could replace Romo(you didn't insinuate this , I'm just saying.).

..the old cliche', you have to start somewhere. And you're darn right he's not replacing Romo. But I like him waiting in the wings if ever needed.

 

[Air Force One]

..the old cliche', you have to start somewhere. And you're darn right he's not replacing Romo. But I like him waiting in the wings if ever needed.

I agree. I like knowing he's there if needed. From the looks of Garrett and McGee interacting on the sideline it looks as if Garrett likes the guy.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I agree. I like knowing he's there if needed. From the looks of Garrett and McGee interacting on the sideline it looks as if Garrett likes the guy.

He has been in his shoes. Both are very bright guys too. That's one thing people discount about McGee. He went to A&M, but he really is smart. I think that's a pleasure for Garrett even with Romo and Kitna... He has 3 bright guys at QB.

 

[realtick]

He telegraphs a lot of his throws and gets locked into one receiver a lot of times.

His pocket has improved some, but still needs a lot of work. One thing I notice about him is that he seems like he comes out of the huddle with the idea he's going to be throwing it to one receiver, his first read, and doesn't continue to make his progressions. That could be a by product of having poor pocket presence or lacking that internal clock QBs talk about, which is why he doesn't appear to make his reads, preferring to checkdown.

 

[Aggie87]

The thing that makes it tougher to judge McGee is that he's playing with backups and third-stringers and guys that won't make the team. If they're not running the right routes, he has to be more patient throwing until they get open or he thinks they have a chance at catching the ball. Plus the backup line guys don't always give him the best protection.

I thought he did well at the end of last season when he started, and played with the starters. That makes alot of difference, and if he were allowed to continue playing with starters I think you'd see alot more improvement.

That said he's got to get through his reads quicker still, and give up on the ones that aren't there.

 

[Doomsday101]

What I saw was a guy who looked more relaxed and more confident in the offense and himself. No doubt McGee still has work to do and more development but looking back to what I saw the last 2 seasons to what I saw last night show he is progressing.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

What I saw was a guy who looked more relaxed and more confident in the offense and himself. No doubt McGee still has work to do and more development but looking back to what I saw the last 2 seasons to what I saw last night show he is progressing.

Yes, sir. He is progressing nicely. I knew he had it in him. He doesn't seem to be discouraged by Romo being his superior.

 

[Doomsday101]

Yes, sir. He is progressing nicely. I knew he had it in him. He doesn't seem to be discouraged by Romo being his superior.

I fully expected it was going to take some time and as long as he is showing progess I think the team is willing to work with him.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I fully expected it was going to take some time and as long as he is showing progess I think the team is willing to work with him.

Yes, he has the tools. I think we should work with him. I hope the staff agrees with you and I.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

He telegraphs a lot of his throws and gets locked into one receiver a lot of times.

On that 4th down play, we were watching the game and the 1st thing we all commented on was that from the snap, he never took his eyes off the primary receiver. A good safety will pick that off or just turn off the lights on the WR if we are very lucky.

I thought he played OK but I agree with your statement about locking on a receiver.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

He needs to be faster in his progressions but he is better than he was at the end of last year and that was better than the year before. Remember this is the guy that would not get a pass farther down field than 10 yards two years ago. He has come along light years from being Dr. Checkdown.

He is improving steadily from a technical and mental standpoint. He is also a gamer as he keeps making big plays at end of games. I really like the guy now and going forward.

 

[CowboyDan]

My biggest problem with him is he locks on to the primary right away, and if he's not open, he looks to run too quickly. You could actually see JG coaching him up throughout the first couple of drives to scan the field and give the play a chance. When he does settle down he makes things happen. Hell, he beat Franchise QB Kevin Kolb IN PHILLY last year! I like him as a 3rd stringer and hopefully the backup when Kitna retires. He's got 4 great mentors in Romo, Kitna, Garrett & Wilson.

 

[Blast From The Past]

..the old cliche', you have to start somewhere. And you're darn right he's not replacing Romo. But I like him waiting in the wings if ever needed.

Grooming a future QB! I like that aspect and hope Jerry Jones realizes and I think he does that quality starting QB's don't get picked up from minor league baseball teams or reaches in the draft. I liked what I saw last night of McGee and see his growth and as a 3rd QB he'll continue to learn and grow till the time comes for him to put all of that into starting for the Cowboys and onto greatness!

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

My biggest problem with him is he locks on to the primary right away, and if he's not open, he looks to run too quickly. You could actually see JG coaching him up throughout the first couple of drives to scan the field and give the play a chance. When he does settle down he makes things happen. Hell, he beat Franchise QB Kevin Kolb IN PHILLY last year! I like him as a 3rd stringer and hopefully the backup when Kitna retires. He's got 4 great mentors in Romo, Kitna, Garrett & Wilson.

I agree with all of this. He does look to run a lot. But he was sacked a few times. So he does need to work on his reads, but he wasn't playing with Miles and Dez either. I definitely don't think he is ready for the starting position. He has a few kinks to work out. And having all those guys around him will have to help him a lot. I wonder how many years total Romo, Kitan, Garrett and Wilson have as quarterbacks...that would be interesting to know. They all bring a lot to the table.

 

[dwmyers]

He went to A&M, thus he really is smart.

Fixed that for ya'. Dad was an Aggie, couldn't resist .

 

[Eddie]

Guys, don't put too much faith into McGee being our future franchise QB.

The best we can hope for is that he blossoms and we can trade him for high round draft picks before he leaves as an UFA.

Romo has another 10 years here. Having McGee to groom is a good thing ... ala Green Bay. But don't expect him to be our future QB.